Tamalpais Union school board upholds dismissal of popular math teachers

Nearly 100 people who turned out to support three highly regarded math teachers left the Tamalpais Union High School District board meeting disappointed Wednesday after the trustees upheld the teachers' dismissal.

The teachers — Ryan Fedoroff, Anders Fairbanks and Juan Vidal — were all informed Feb. 28 they were not being brought back to Tamalpais High School next school year. Vidal is a first-year teacher. Fedoroff and Fairbanks, though both in their second full years at Tam High, are veteran math teachers.

The decision was technically made as a recommendation by administrators, which the board of trustees could approve or deny.

After hearing a dozen speakers supporting the teachers to open the meeting, held at Sir Francis Drake High School, the trustees retreated for a closed session. Upon returning — after deliberating for nearly 50 minutes — board president Bob Walter announced the board voted to uphold the administrative decision.

Supporters immediately exited, with some boos directed at trustees and administrators.

"They didn't even defer the decision. A teacher asked them (during public comments) to find a better solution, but that was not even given a chance," said Tam High parent Claudia Searle. "It seems like there is a disconnect between the board and the community."

Supporters, many of whom said they were shocked by the decision and the process to led to it, gathered to discuss next steps, such as protests and creating a Facebook page to rally support. Fairbanks and Fedoroff were consoled by colleagues, while Dave Wetzel, head of Tam High's math department, broke down in tears.

Several supporters said they were bothered that Walter made the announcement without addressing the controversial nature of the dismissals or acknowledging the strong show of support for the teachers.

About a dozen people spoke — all in favor of keeping the teachers — during public comment, including students, teachers, parents, and Mill Valley School District trustee Bob Jacobs, who congratulated the district for having hired such effective math teachers.

Junior Carla Cardamone and sophomores Kate Russell and Emma Mastra presented the board with petitions listing hundreds of names of people supporting the teachers.

The comment period ended with an impassioned speech by Tam High math teacher Curt Gebhard.

"One hundred percent of Tam's math department wants these teachers on their team," Gebhard said. "Do you know how rare a teacher with a math credential is, let alone a good one? You're not going to find three teachers better than these three, not in Marin, not in Napa "... not anywhere in the U.S. "... or in Pakistan."

In the time between public comments and the announcement by Walter, Fedoroff said she was "incredibly moved by the outpouring of support" by colleagues, students and parents.

"I just love being a part of this community and want to continue being a part of it," said Fedoroff, who grew up in Mill Valley.

The decision to let the teachers go has led to suspicion that it has something to do with a new teaching method, created by New Tech Network, that the district is offering as an optional teaching approach but the Tam High math department has declined to use.

The speculation prompted Superintendent Laurie Kimbrel to send an email to Tam High parents explaining that implementing New Tech teaching methods and the decision not to retain certain teachers are separate issues that "have been conflated."

Under state law, school personnel matters are confidential. Kimbrel said that is why the district can not publicly share the reasons for dismissing Federoff, Fairbanks and Vidal — even if the Tam High community objects.

"This can be frustrating for the community, but an individual employee's absolute right to confidentiality is clearly protected by the law," Kimbrel said in the email. "That said, the decision to keep and tenure a teacher is very complex and is made with consideration of a wide array of criteria."

Regardless of whether there is a connection between the teacher dismissals and the New Tech implementation, the controversy has raised questions about New Tech, a project-based teaching method that appeared at Drake High last school year and is now an option for teachers at Tam High.

Teachers and parents have complained that they have not received adequate information about this alternative teaching approach and why it is being offered.

Tam High community members have also raised questions over the fact that Tam Union Assistant Superintendent Michael McDowell is a former New Tech teacher and consultant.